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Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

Title:The Hunting Notesfile
Notice:Registry #7, For Sale #15, Success #270
Moderator:SALEM::PAPPALARDO
Created:Wed Sep 02 1987
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1561
Total number of notes:17784

77.0. "Quail in New Hampshire?" by STAR::FARNHAM (Ah, controversy!) Mon Nov 09 1987 09:45

    
    I'm training my Gordon Setters for field trial/AKC working certificate
    work. AKC pointer trials (or at least those the Gordon Setter clubs
    sponsor) use quail exclusively. 
    
    It's my understanding that there are no quail native to New Hampshire
    and I certainly haven't come across any out in the woods here. Someone
    has suggested that I purchase a recall pen and some birds and establish
    my own covey on our property.
    
    My questions are 2:
    
    1. Am I correct in my assumption that quail are not native to NH?
    2. Will they be able to survive a NH winter if I do try to get some
       established?
    
    Stu
    
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77.1BPOV09::PERRYMon Nov 09 1987 10:2325
    
    Hi Stu,
    
    To the best of my knowledge, quail are not native to N.H. . 
    Released quail can survive the winter in N.H. providing that you
    leave feed out for them. Having your own recall pen is just a 
    start for keeping quail. Pen-raised quail or pheasant, or any
    other pen-raised bird will require a flight pen to keep the birds
    exercised so that they are good flyers. One thing that you don't
    want is your dog to start catching birds that get up and fly about
    10 feet and come back down again. Another requirement for a flight
    pen is that you don't want the birds in close proximity to avoid
    a pecking problem. Many of the bird breeders have several different
    methods of dealing with these problems, so you may want to talk
    with several bird breeders before you decide to keep birds for 
    dog training. Another consideration is how many birds you release,
    becouse if too many birds are released, they'll establish their
    own coveys in the wild. When this happens, the number of birds that
    you can recall really dwindles. When they do establish their own
    coveys, they will probably leave your area completely.
     I don't mean to discourage you, but to inform you that there are
    many things to consider that could be very expensive.
    
    pat.
    
77.2exitSTAR::FARNHAMAh, controversy!Mon Nov 09 1987 10:286
    
    Thanks, Pat. All the info is appreciated. I'm new at field work,
    so have a lot to learn!
    
    Stu